Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs InvestEngine
Where Freetrade and InvestEngine differ
| Compare |  Freetrade |  InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs |
| Platforms | App, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Corporate |
| Interest on cash | 1%Higher | 0% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free |
Same on both: Stock trade fee (£0), Account fee (£0), Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Freetrade scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Freetrade: 2016 vs 2019.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade: £1 vs £100.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Stocks, Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App.
- Platforms: only InvestEngine offers iOS, Android.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers Jisa.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers Corporate.
- Interest on cash is higher at Freetrade: 1% vs 0%.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners who want to buy shares, ETFs, bonds and funds without paying a dealing charge or an annual account fee. Regulation sits with the Financial Conduct Authority and holdings are covered by the FSCS, though a currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. |
| Trust | 8.5Higher | 8.4 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Freetrade
£0
48 × £0 + 1 × £0
InvestEngine
£0
48 × £0 + 1 × £0
Both come to the same total.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by InvestEngine). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 171 of 490 | 187 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 36 of 85 | 41 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 57 of 88 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 9 of 21 | 13 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 8 of 22 | 12 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | InvestEngine (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2016Lower | 2019 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | InvestEngine | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1lowest quarter | £100above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 34 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing commission of £0 and an account fee of £0 keep the running cost of an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA low.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, with protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Fractional shares and a demo account let you size positions in small amounts and practise before committing money.
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies whenever you hold investments in more than one currency.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for account or transfer questions.
- The account range is limited to isa, sipp and jisa, so there is no general investment account for shares outside a wrapper.
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
Who each suits
Freetrade
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a stocks and shares ISA or Junior ISA with small monthly amounts
- Long-term investors who want to hold a simple share and ETF portfolio without a dealing charge
- SIPP holders who prefer an app and web platform to a phone-only service
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need a general investment account outside a tax wrapper
- Investors who trade frequently in several currencies, because the 0.99% conversion fee applies each time
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Freetrade
How much does it cost to buy shares on Freetrade?+
The dealing charge is £0 and the account fee is £0. Those two cover the trading and holding side of a stocks and shares ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA. The charge that appears is currency conversion at 0.99%, which only shows up if part of your portfolio sits in another currency.
Who regulates Freetrade and is my money protected?+
Freetrade Limited is regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with register reference 783189. Protection for eligible holdings is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the ceiling the scheme pays if the firm cannot return your money. It covers firm failure rather than market losses.
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.